Leeds hospital patients have admitted they felt "unsafe" entering St James's Hospital after a 'gunman' was arrested and bomb squads descended on the scene.
A 'suspicious package' was found outside the maternity wards in the Gledhow Wing, off Beckett Street in Harehills, at about 5am today (January 20). A 27-year-old man was arrested after he was found with a "gun" and "suspicious devices".
Patients and staff were evacuated from the hospital while police counter terrorism units descended upon the hospital. Forces from the British Army were also in attendance, liaising with the police.
Follow our live blog on the incident here with all the latest updates
Patient Ben Richards, 39, was visiting for a check-up on his cruciate knee damage, an injury he sustained whilst playing football. The father-of-two, six and 11, from Middleton was shocked to see the police army presence upon his arrival and was shaken by the news.
Ben said: “It makes me think, ‘b***** h***!’ That isn’t very good, is it? It makes me want to get back in my car and go home. I hope I can get in though.”
Mother-of-two Melinda Delgado, 36, walks through the hospital ground on her to way to pick up her daughter, 10, from school. Melinda was pushing her youngest, two, in the pram through the grounds.
The Harehills woman said she felt “unsafe” and had concerns for her two-year-old while walking past the crime scene.
Melinda said: “It made me feel unsafe. I was wondering what was going on. It’s usually really quiet here. It’s made me feel very unsafe, I walk here with my baby every single day.”
Hospital porter Cameron Hey, 26, was outraged by the events which had unfolded. He said: “It’s not great, really. People will say security needs to do more…but it’s just not expected to happen in a hospital. I mean, out of all the places!
“People are already here ill, why would you try and make it worse for them?”
Cameron, whose worked at St James’ for a couple of months, hastened to add that he think the security team do a fine job and that he feels safe there.
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